New community centre wind and water tight

Colin Guilbert, a director of the Cobo Community Centre committee, said the roof was 'near enough finished' and all glass had been fully fitted.

'I, and others within the committee, have lived and breathed this project for around 12 years now, and now that we have reached this stage in the building process, it's really becoming exciting as we are able to see the vision taking shape,' he said.

The new centre is being built to replace the former St Matthew's Church Hall, which had been falling apart and was demolished last September.

Mr Guilbert said the hall had become 'absolutely derelict'.

'The facilities were beyond redemption. The toilets were poor, the windows were bent, the electrics didn't work properly and the roof leaked all the time,' he said.

'While we did consider re-developing the church hall, we decided that it would have meant throwing good money after bad.'

So far, the project team has raised around £900,000 for the build, but fellow director Pauline Mahy said a further £700,000 was needed.

Donations can be made, payable to Cobo Community Centre, at any HSBC branch using sort code 40-22-25 and account number 44126610.

Cheques and donations can also been sent to financial director Pauline Mahy at Les Palmiers, Grandes Rocques, Castel, GY5 7FR.

For more information, call Mrs Mahy on 257885.